Silvio Berlusconi, the man who changed the face of club football in Italy has died after a brief illness in Italy.
According to marca, Silvio Berlusconi was one of the most powerful figures in Italian politics and football.
After a legendary career in football administration in Italy, Berlusconi suffered a chronic disease. He was diagnosed with myelomonocytic leukaemia in 2021, a blood diseases that diminish the capacity of the blood to fight diseases.
Berlusconi had battled the disease for two years since 2021 before it finally proved fatal. He was hospitalized on Friday before it was confirmed he has passed away on Monday, June 12.
Berlusconi in Italian football
Silvio Berlusconi started his journey in Italian football in 1986 when he bought AC Milan. He was the longest-serving president of the club.
Berlusconi led AC Milan as President for 20 years from 1986 to 2006. During his reign, AC Milan became one of best teams in Italy and in Europe.
After taking over the club, AC Milan won the Serie A title in 1987/88 season and went ahead to dominate Italy topflight in the 90s under the watch of Berlusconi.
The club won their second Scudetto under Silvio Berlusconi in 1991/92 season and went ahead to win the title for three consecutive seasons.
AC Milan won eight Scudetto titles under Silvio Berlusconi but managed only one Coppa Italia in 2002/03 season. They also won seven Supercoppa trophies.
Berlusconi’s reign saw AC Milan emerge as giants at the European stage. The club won two European Cups back-to-back in 1989 and 1990 and added three more in 1994, 2003, and 2007.
They also won two continental cups and one FIFA Club World Cup. Berlusconi last trophy at AC Milan was the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana
Berlusconi at Monza
After his success story at AC Milan, Silvio Berlusconi experimented his giant strides at Rossoneri with Monza. He bought the club for €3m in 2018 while they were in Serie C, Italy’s third tier.
In a flash, Berlusconi transformed Monza to a near-giant in Italian football. He brought them from Serie C to Serie A after sinking €200m into the club, establishing the club as a top Serie A club contending for European football.
Berlusconi’s life outside football
Apart from his giant strides in Italian football, Berlusconi was a towering but controversial figure in Italian political and media scene.
He was Italy’s longest-serving Prime Minister after the Second World War but his reputation was marred with sex scandals and allegations of tax evasion.
Silvio Berlusconi’s wife and children
Silvio Berlusconi married Italian actress and entrepreneur, Veronica Lario in 1990. After 20 years of marriage, Lario and Berlusconi broke up in 2010 after the former said she could not put up with Berlusconi’s lifestyle of flirting with minors. The pair finalized their divorce procedure in 2014.
Before the breakup, they had three children together, Barbara 41, Eleonora, 39, and Luigi, 37.
Silvio Berlusconi’s net worth
Silvio was deemed as one of the most richest sport and political figures in Italy. His net worth was initially reported as £5.9bn but as of the time of filing this report, his net worth was pecked at £6.8bn.
